Posts Tagged ‘healthy pet food’

In yet another indication of the rapid rise in popularity of grain-free pet foods, Artemis has announced they will be replacing their grain-free Maximal dog food product with THREEnew grain-free lines early in 2013.

The new Osopure Grain Free range contains three different & nutritious recipe formulas - Bison, Duck & Salmon – all without grains but mixed with Garbanzo Beans which are an excellent source of carbohydrate, fibre and other essential nutrients.

All contain approximately 24% protein and come with the trusted Artemis Guarantee that NONE of their products contain any corn or soy, any wheat or wheat gluten, rice protein concentrate and no added chemical preservatives, artificial additives or by-products.

Buy why are grain-free foods becoming so popular? We’ve blogged about this a lot (see ‘Safety in Numbers) but perhaps we can answer it with this simple explanation. Evolutionary history shows that our 4-legged besties are natural hunters and carnivores, not grain eaters. Through hundreds of years of domestication, dogs have retained a nearly identical digestive system to their wolf ancestors so grains are considered ‘foreign’ and many dogs have shown an aversion to foods that contain too many grains.

These aversions show in symptoms such as itchy skin, hot spots, yeast problems in ears and sensitive stomachs. However, medical research shows that a simple diet of real protein sources (ie; salmon, bison, chicken, lamb, etc) balanced with a non-grain carbohydrate seems to be offering permanent relief.

Have a chat to your Vet and read the labels on the products. Pookinuk sells many brands which each have grain-free formulas (Artemis, Canidae, Earthborn, EVO, Taste of the Wild) and they all vary in fat and protein levels. Some products can be quite high in fat and protein (up to 40%) which may suit some dogs but not all. The new Osopure Grain Free lines contain 24% protein and 14% fat which is a fair balance.

An holistic grain-free formula packed with essential vitamins and minerals is designed to help support your dog’s overall well-being.

Tomato pomace and potato fibre are two natural fibre sources that help support your pet’s digestive system.

Quality protein sources, rich in amino acids, are hand selected for the Osopure grain-free range in order to provide optimum fundamental nutrition for your pet.

The Osopure Grain Free range is carefully crafted to supply the necessary nutrition to your dog at every stage of life, from puppy to the golden years!

Fruits and vegetables provide natural antioxidants to help support your dog’s healthy lifestyle.

Garbanzo Beans & Sweet potatoes are excellent sources of carbohydrates, fibre and other essential nutrients which help your dog stay active all day.

Available from January 2013, these three new Osopure recipe formulas will be added to our fast-growing section of Grain Free products. You now have loads more choice and more options for your pet’s food.

It was only five years ago that super premium brands like Eukanuba, Hills Science Diet and Advance were the leaders in the pet food industry with their dry, ‘healthy’ pet food formulas. They were heralded by the Vet industry as the healthy alternative to wet, gravy-rich brands such as Pal and the like. How things have changed!

Now there’s loads of new kids on the block and they’re taking the pet food world by storm with their all-natural formulas. Pet owners have realised that the ‘you are what you eat’ philosophy applies to pets as well as humans! Subsequently, food that contains no chemicals, no artificial colours or flavours but does contain a host of all-natural ingredients is high on their shopping list.

We recently listened to a presentation by a U.S. manufacturer of pet foods who said they’ve been amazed at the rise in sales of all-natural pet food. They commented that “Today’s consumers want to feed their pets like family and even, to a greater and greater extent, like people. Consequently, natural pet food is taking the market by storm”. We liken this to believing that most people wouldn’t eat a fast-food diet (aka McDonalds/KFC) every day, so why would you give it to your pet?

Furthermore, the science of pet nutrition has advanced in such a way that even these all-natural formulas are becoming specialised. The various protein & carbohydrate sources on offer (eg. Chicken & brown rice/Whitefish & sweet potatoes/Salmon & potato/Lamb & rice) are formulated in various amounts to suit different breeds of canines and felines based on their energy needs. Completely grain-free formulas are also becoming more popular. But that’s a whole different ball game …..

1. Buy Canidae or Felidae plus something else from our store and you’ll go in the running to win a Sony Bravia Internet TV worth $900. WOW! Now you can surf the net and watch your favourite TV show at the same time! Canidae (for dogs) and Felidae (for cats) are an all natural, holistic pet food that do not contain corn, wheat, soy or fillers. Top quality food with a top quality prize! Our Internet TV competition finishes November 4, 2011.

2. Holistic Select & Eagle Pack’s supply woes are over. We have plenty of stock and to celebrate, you won’t pay for shipping if you buy either product (dog or cat) at Pookinuk this month (metro only). PLUS as an extra bonus, you won’t pay for shipping on a repeat order either! What a great deal and what a great time to give it a try!

Just read this great article published by the ‘Whole Dog Journal’ out of the U.S. about how to choose the right dog food.

We subscribe to this great publication (every February they publish their ‘Top Dog Food’ report) and are always impressed by their totally unbiased reporting on things that really matter in the world of dogs (and it’s not funded by advertisers!).

There’s no doubting that the quality and philosophy about pet food over the last decade or so has changed dramatically. It’s now not considered beneficial for a dog or cat to live wholly on a wet diet. A good quality dry food is considered much more beneficial because not only does it deliver the required nutrients but also keeps your pet’s teeth clean and healthy (for one thing).

The article suggests that dogs, just like people, are individuals. And if we are to base our pet’s dietary choices on this, then you wouldn’t feed the same food to a large, active dog and a small, lie-at-home-all-day-watching-television dog! That makes sense to me.

And it makes good common sense to follow the advice to assess your dog’s health while dieting on its current food. List the health assets and problems it may have. Health assets are things like bright eyes, fresh breath, clean teeth, glossy coat, clean ears etc. Any conditions for which your dog requires a visit to the vet would be listed on the problems list along with things like bad breath, goopy eyes, excessive gas, diarrhoea, recurring fleas or worms, low or excessive energy etc.

If there are a lot more assets on your list than problems, and the problems are minor, then you’re probably already feeding your dog the right type of food.

If not, then your dog’s a good candidate for a change of diet! Again, go to view the Whole Dog Journal article as it outlines in much more detail what you should be assessing if your dog’s health is an issue.

And referring back to their Top Dog Food report, we’re happy to report that we stock three of their ‘approved dry foods’. Artemis, Organix (Castor & Pollux) and Eagle Pack’s Holistic Select can be purchased and home delivered from Pookinuk. All these foods use high quality ingredients and are classified as either a ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ food.

We speak to a lot of our customers about dietary concerns they may have for their pets so if you have any concerns or have followed the Whole Dog Journal’s advice and realised that your dog or cat perhaps isn’t eating the right food, give us a call. We’re more than happy to help point you in the right direction – 1300 65 66 75.

Love Eagle Pack’s Natural Formula? Or perhaps your dog would like to try a new food? One of our specials for May is a discount off the price of 15kg Eagle Pack Natural. Normally priced at around $99.95, we’re currently selling this super premium product for $79.95. This special price won’t last long so order before end May.

May special - $20 off 15kg Natural Formula

Made in the U.S., Eagle Pack’s Natural Formula is ideal for adult dogs of all sizes and breeds. The main ingredient is lamb meal from range-fed sheep but also features quality carbohydrates such as oatmeal, rice and corn. Each is bought as whole grains, are naturally pesticide-free and ground fresh for each production run.

This formula does not contain soy or wheat. Eagle Pack base their choice of Natural formula carbohydrates on findings that suggest soy causes gas and wheat has been tested as one of the top three ingredients known to cause allergies.

Natural Formula has proven extremely beneficial to German Shepherds, Boxers, and other breeds suffering from digestive tract and weight and coat problems and has been proven on Large and Giant breeds for over a decade.

To place an order, click here or to find out more about Eagle Pack’s range of super premium dog & cat foods, go to Eagle Pack.

With 3 dogs, 1 cat and a rabbit between us here at Pookinuk, we’re constantly on the look-out for cat & dog food products that will keep our furry friends in tip-top shape & health. Being strong believers in the old adage “you are what you eat”, we reckon this applies to our four-legged best friends as well! We’ve seen the benefits of an organic diet so surely dietary changes can help our pets too.

And I don’t think we’re alone in this. Since the Natural Balance brand disappeared, customers are constantly asking us about the availability of a replacement organic pet food.

Research suggests that organic foods have many benefits for pets. Without totally plagiarising from an American website that we’re always referencing (www.organicauthority.com), there are five key benefits:-

1) Reduction of skin ailments and allergies – because it’s free of artificial colors and flavor enhancers, chemical additives and toxic pesticides that could be the source of your pet’s allergies.

2) More energy and a healthy weight – dogs feel more satiated eating smaller amounts of tasty, nutrient-dense foods. An organic diet can help your pet lose weight, have more energy and therefore exercise more.

3) Fewer digestive disorders – easily digestible oats, barley or other natural whole grains and human-grade turkey, lamb or chicken make a huge difference to your pet’s digestive system. Rather than consuming corn or other bulk fillers and chemical additives, your pet will ingest only what it needs for healthy metabolic functioning.

4) Better overall health & stronger immunity – because an organic diet is more digestible, our pets are likely to absorb rather than eliminate more of the nutrients they require to maintain a healthy immune system. Boosting your pet’s immunity may help prevent costly infections and illnesses that require vet care.

5) Quality of life and longevity - a luxurious, shiny coat, energy to run and play, a healthy weight and a strong immune system can maximize your dog’s life expectancy and quality of life into old age.

OK it might be more expensive but it might help delete that even more expensive vet bill!

So, we’ve been on the look-out for a top quality organic product for quite some time and we’re excited to say that we think we’ve found it. Made by Castor & Pollux in the U.S., their Organix range meets all U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements and it doesn’t have to be irradiated when it hits our shores (good thing!).

Organix pack shot - there's Adult dog, Puppy & Cat formulas

Organix dog & cat food products comply with all USDA National Organic Program requirements, which means that each and every ingredient in Organix including those that aren’t organic are reviewed and approved by an organic certifying agency that enforces all USDA requirements. Which means that the words “organic” or “‘certified organic” on the Organix labels are bona fide!

Organic ingredients must have no pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, no antibiotics, no growth hormones, no bio-engineering (no GMOs). Certified organic, free-range chicken is the #1 ingredient in all the Organix dry formulas with organic brown rice, organic peas, organic carrots and organic flaxseed completing the mix for a wholesome, balanced diet. Buy it online and get it delivered to your door from Pookinuk Pet Supplies – we stock the Adult Dog, Puppy & Cat dry formulas as well as the canned range.

It comes in a 1.3kg bag which makes it easy to give it a try. See if you can see the organic difference and let us know what you think!